Ellipsis and Multiple Meanings

Towards a Deeper Understanding of the Qur’anic Text

Abstract

Ellipsis is a linguistic phenomenon found in all languages, yet it is more evident and frequent in some, such as Arabic, due to its speakers’ inclination toward brevity and conciseness in speech. This is because ellipsis represents a means of condensing expression, reducing heaviness in structure, and enhancing textual cohesion. It also reflects, as Ibn Jinni (d. 392 AH) stated in Al-Khasa'is (الخصائص), the boldness of the Arabic language and its reliance on the intellect and perceptiveness of the listener in grasping the intended meaning with minimal wording. Its benefit, however, is not limited to brevity and conciseness. Rather, it is also one of the linguistic devices employed to convey meaning in a fresh manner, just as is the case with amplification, specification, and restriction. It is therefore an indispensable tool for the speaker in formulating and communicating meanings in an eloquent style that corresponds to the demands of context. Ellipsis has also other benefits that are outlined in this study. The research is divided into two sections preceded by an introduction. The first section defines ellipsis linguistically and technically, mentions its conditions and value, and presents its types and related terminology. The second section offers selected examples from various Qur’anic surahs, with reference to their relevant contexts. These are followed by a concise conclusion summarizing the findings that this brief study has sought to achieve. Our approach in presenting this material is analytical, applied to selected examples from the Qur’an.